There is no difference in your top speed between the 2. The only real difference would be in your mpg, the 4wd will be lower due to the extra drag on the drive train. If by “faster” you mean able to accelerate quicker, then operation in 4WD mode could potentially be faster than operation in 2WD mode.
Generally, cars with four-wheel drive are quicker off the line. This is compared to a car of the same power but with two wheel drive.
When it detects slippage, the power is transferred to other wheels to compensate. Improved performance: An all-wheel-drive car has better acceleration than RWD or 4WD. Since all four wheels accelerate simultaneously, there is no wheel spin when you pull hard.
Wheel turning speed will be drastically reduced when 4×4 low is engaged but more engine power and torque are more readily available. 4WD helps you drive, but you still need to be able to slow down and control the vehicle's movement on your own. Because of this, you'll want to think before you speed up on bad roads.
The main benefits of 4WD are traction and power. Have you ever seen those commercials where the Jeep is climbing over boulders and rocks? That's 4WD in action. If you are climbing a steep hill or are off-roading, you will want increased power in order to get over obstacles and climb steep hills.
Both send power to all four of a vehicle's wheels, but AWD is more useful on paved roads or for light off-roading, while 4WD has a lot of off-road capability but limited usability on paved roads.
Partly, it is oversteer that makes rear-wheel driven cars more fun, because there are few things as satisfying, and heart fibrillating, as catching and correcting an oversteer moment, or, if you're on a track and in possession of the necessary skills, holding a rear-wheel slide.
In terms of acceleration, a RWD system will also be quicker than a FWD setup because as weight transfers to the rear off-the-line, the front wheels lose grip and the rear wheels gain more.
With two-wheel drive, the engine sends power to two of the car's wheels while allowing the other two wheels to spin. Because the engine doesn't have to use energy to power all four wheels, and because two-wheel drive systems weigh less than four-wheel drive, two-wheel drive vehicles are lighter and more fuel-efficient.
Four-wheel-drive pickups typically have slightly lower towing capacities than their 2-wheel-drive counterparts due to the extra weight of the 4-wheel-drive components. They're also typically less fuel efficient than 2-wheel-drive trucks, but having a 4×4 can be very handy, especially for pulling a trailer.
When compared to four-wheel drives and all-wheel vehicles, 2wd vehicles have much superior fuel efficiency. This is because a 4wd vehicle's engine must give power to all four wheels, but a 2wd vehicle's engine must only deliver power to two wheels. The extra power necessitates the use of more fuel.
Disadvantages of 4WD include added cost for purchase, maintenance and fuel; increased vehicle weight which affects braking distance; overconfidence leading to more stuck situations; lower fuel efficiency compared to 2WD vehicles.
Neither of the two options is specifically “better” than the other; it depends on what you need AWD or 4WD for. AWD and 4WD provide better handling, but you'd want AWD if you ride on rough roads during harsh weather, while 4WD is better for those who have heavy hauls on the job site or spend time off the pavement.
Do not use 4WD on flat, smooth and dry roads, as it can damage your vehicle, according to Consumer Reports. Family Handyman adds that 4WD uses up more fuel to get the gears and drive shaft going. Turn it off when you don't need it to save on gas.
Front-wheel drive has worse acceleration than rear-wheel drive, which is why most sporty and race cars use rear-wheel drive. With all the weight up front, front-wheel drive can make handling more difficult. CV joints/boots in FWD vehicles tend to wear out sooner than rear-wheel drive vehicles.
An RWD car's front tires are less burdened than an FWD car, which means it can more accurately maneuver a trailer through traffic. Improved steering: Since the back wheels provide all the power while the front wheels do the steering work, RWD cars offer better steering than FWD cars.
Rear-drive cars also tend to feel quicker off the line than front-drive models, since the vehicle's weight effectively transfers rearward, over the drive wheels, while accelerating, which improves grip.
Because rear-drive vehicles have their drive wheels in a lighter part of the car than front-drive vehicles, they're more prone to fishtailing. In this situation, a driver turns the wheel during acceleration, and the car's rear wheels start to push it into a difficult spin.
Rear wheel drive cars have better balance than front wheel drive cars. Because the balance is better, the handling of the car will be better. Front wheel drive cars have most of the weight of the engine and transaxle over the front wheels.
Rear-wheel drive is better than front-wheel drive for ultimate acceleration. This is because of the increased weight over the car's drive wheels, its rear tires. That weight pushes the vehicles' tires into the road, increasing traction and their ability to push the car down the road.
AWD and 4WD drive systems can add hundreds of pounds to a car's curb weight, and that extra bulk can have a big impact on fuel economy. That's because an engine has to work harder to move a heavier car, which means more fuel is used to move an AWD car the same distance as one with 2WD.
Vehicles with AWD have more confidence and better traction in wet, snow or icy road conditions. By shifting power to the wheels that need it most, AWD systems help vehicles get started on slippery roads and can even help correct wheel slip when the vehicle is underway to help it stay on the road.
Four-wheel drive (4WD) is a system that divides the vehicle's power between four wheels, and it's often common in off-road pickup trucks and other vehicles that have off-road capabilities. Four-wheel drive offers drivers maximum traction, making it easier to navigate uneven terrain or rough conditions.
Generally, 4WD and AWD are only necessary if you live in a climate where it snows and rains a lot. If you drive on dirt roads that are frequently muddy, they can provide more confidence when it matters most.